Cut-off-thread-gathering attachment for threading-machines.



No. 830,814. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

B. ZACH. GUT-OFF THREAD GATHERING ATTACHMENT FOR THREADING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1905. I

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rmrrnn srA'rEs PATENT OFFICE- BER-NHARD ZACH, OF PASSAIO, NETV JERSEY.

CUT-OFF-THREAD-GATHERING ATTACHMENT FOR THREADlNG-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed June 14,1905. Serial No. 265,295.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BERNHARD ZACH, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing in Passaic, county of Passaic, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-Oif-Thread-Gathering Attachments for Threading-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto, in the manufacture of fine embroideries and analogous arts in which the use of threaded needles was essential, the threads, after they were inserted or threaded in the needles by the mechanism of the threading-machines, and the threaded needles in turn inserted in the thread transferbars of the machines, would be caused to come in contact with theloily and somewhat dirty parts of the machines and be caught therein. The threads of the transfer-bars also became entangled, the disentanglement of which not alone consumed considerable time, but would cause the threads to be kinkcd and soiled, so that their quality would be impaired. Due to these causes many threads had to be discarded, as otherwise no perfect work could be produced.

My invention is intended to overcome these inherent disadvantages accompanying the use of threading-machines, and relates to such machines, more particularly to attachments to the same whereby each thread after having one end of the same inserted in a needle and cut off to the required length has its free end gathered and guided in such a manner as to prevent its being subjected to the disadvantageous features hereinbcfore set forth.

The invention consists in certain combinations of parts and details of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a threadingmachine provided with my improved attachment. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the threading-machine with parts broken away and with the attachment secured there to, and Fig. 3 shows a detail plan view of the attachment.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of a threading-machine, supported by legs a. On the frame A are arranged needlethreading devices B B, a supply-spool O, a rotatable needlegripper D, a thread-cutter E, a transfer-bar F, and operating mechanism G, G, and G parts well known and not necessary to be described in detail.

Securedto the frame'A at a point approxi mately below the transfer-bar are brackets H, which support bearings in which a shaft H is movable, to which is secured a pulley I Secured to the lower part of one of the legs a of the machine are brackets K, in which a shaft K rotates, to which a pulley 1/ is secured. Over these pulleys 1 1 passes an endless vertically-disposed belt or conveyingapron M, made of canvas, web goods, or similar material adapted to have considerable friction with any threads that may come in contact therewith. The shaft H is pro vided with a driving-pulley H connected by suitable transmission means G with the actuating mechanism of the threading-machine. The endless vertically-arranged thread-gathering apron is so disposed with relation to the transfer-bar that the downward. run of said apron is approximately vertically below said. bar.

To one of the legs a of the machine is secured a gathering-rod N, having its end bent hook-shaped and this end in proximity to the edge of the conveying-apron M. Said rod extends across said apron adjacent the downward run thereof.

Reciprocated by the actuating mechanism G is a rod T, having at its end a segmentalshaped extension T, on which a hook t is adjustablc. On the downward movement of this rod T the hook t engages the thread and causes its unwinding from the spool O. The length of the thread unwound depends on the position of the hook t, a long thread being unwound when in the position shown in the drawings, while a shorter thread is unwound when moved toward the end of the extension.

Suitably connected with the actuating mechanism of the threading-machine is an arm or shifter P, adapted to be laterally moved to and fro when short lengths of thread are cut. The hooked end P of the shifter P engages the shorter threads and moves or shifts the same toward the apron M, so as to enable it to grasp the threads and carry them along with it until they arrive at the other side of the pulley I between the apron and the gathering-rod N.

The above means are specially applicable for silk threads. In case of cotton threads the belt or apron M is provided. with a brush S, which serves to engage the threads, so as IIO to convey them and to keep them separated,

from each other when held by the rod N.

The operation of my improved attachment is as follows: When the needle is threaded and the needle-gripper D rotated to commence'its movement toward the transfer-bar F, the reciprocating rod T commences its downward movement, its hook engaging the thread and causing the thread to be unwound, the length of thread unwound depending on the adjustment of the hook 25. At the end of the downward movement of the bar T the thread is caused to be cut off, its free end falling downwardly from the thread cutter E, and owing to the momentum imparted to the thread by the downward move ment of rod T the fi'ee end of the thread is thrown toward the apron M, the frictional contact of which causes the free end of the thread to be carried along in its travel and conveyed by it until the free end is caused to be placed vertically below the end passing through the needle inserted in the transferbar. These threads are held in position in proximity to the apron and below the trans fer-bars by the gathering-rod N, thereby preventing the threads to be blown about or become entangled. This becomes especially valuable when the transfer-bar becomes filled and is moved in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When threading short threads, the hook t of the rod T is adjusted so as to be moved to the end of the extension T of the rod T, so as not to unwind so long a thread. The shifter P is then actuated, which moves the threads toward the conveying-apron, so as to cause their coming in frictional contact therewith, whereby they are grasped by the apron and carried from one side ofthe attachment to the other, so that the free ends of the threads hang directly below the threaded needles inserted 'in the transfer-bar, at the same time being held in proper position by the gathering-rod N.

The advantages of my improved attachment are that the thread inserted in the nee- .below the transfer-bar and retained in this position, whereby threads unsoiled and uninjured are collected on the transfer-bar, so that they may be transferred to the embroidsame,

the thread after it has been unwound. III

it has been out off by the thread-cutter E. IV shows the thread after it dropped onto the apron M. V shows the thread vertically below the transfer-bar. I also shows the position of a shorter thread. II shows the position of the thread after it has been unwound from the spool C. 'III shows the position of the thread after it has been cut off and while it is being moved by the arm or shifter P, and IV shows the position of a shorter thread moved vertically below the transfer-bar F.

I claim asnew and desire to secure by Let ters Patent 1. The combination, with a transfer-bar, and. a thread-cutting device at one side of the same, of an endless vertically-arranged thread-gathering apron below said transferbar, means for driving said apron, and a laterally-reciprocating hook adjacent said apron for guiding the threads against the same.

2. The combination, with a transfer-bar, and a thread-cutting device at one side of the of an endless vertically-arranged thread-gathering apron, means for driving said apron, said apron being so disposed with relation to said transfer-bar that the downward run of the same is approximately Vertically below said bar, and a guard-rod extending across said apron adjacent such downward run.

3. In a'device such as described, the combination, with the transfer-bar, and the thread-cutting device at one side of the same, of an endless thread-gathering apron disposed below said bar, means for guiding the threads against said apron at one side or run of the same, and means for retaining the threads adjacent said apron at the other side or run thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have'signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERivHARD ACH.

Witnesses:

HUBERT GARRETT, O. P. GoEPEL.

- shows the position of the falling thread after 

